Least educated counties in Florida
The value of traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step toward the American dream, growing costs have led many students to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push others toward learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, compiled a list of the least educated counties in Florida using data from the . Counties are ranked by the lowest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher. Ties are broken by the highest percent with less than high school diploma.
Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in Florida.
#50. Manatee County
- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.3% ($25,556 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.1% ($27,707)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($34,920)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.2% ($49,066)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($58,231)
#49. Miami-Dade County
- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.6% ($21,459 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($25,552)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($32,096)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.9% ($43,717)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($62,477)
#48. Nassau County
- 29.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($27,102 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($32,470)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($40,264)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.2% ($47,580)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($58,269)
#47. Indian River County
- 29.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($24,714 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.4% ($27,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($30,969)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.8% ($42,144)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($64,588)
#46. Walton County
- 28.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($25,288 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.5% ($26,468)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($32,482)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($47,145)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($72,294)
#45. Lee County
- 28.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.6% ($24,129 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31% ($29,819)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($33,120)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.6% ($45,019)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($55,659)
#44. Santa Rosa County
- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($18,707 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($29,712)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.8% ($38,578)
- Bachelor's degree: 18% ($50,453)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($69,240)
#43. Escambia County
- 26.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($20,456 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($27,430)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($32,455)
- Bachelor's degree: 17% ($45,159)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($57,687)
#42. Flagler County
- 25.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($21,152 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($27,319)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($32,267)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($40,722)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($44,265)
#41. Clay County
- 24.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($22,344 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31% ($32,840)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($36,877)
- Bachelor's degree: 17% ($49,361)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($63,184)
#40. Lake County
- 24% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($23,252 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($29,384)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($32,442)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($41,908)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($52,644)
#39. Pasco County
- 24% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($22,562 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($29,590)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($38,075)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($51,858)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($64,367)
#38. Bay County
- 23.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($21,187 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31% ($29,069)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($32,594)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($45,448)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($65,317)
#37. Volusia County
- 23.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($24,635 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.8% ($29,312)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35% ($31,814)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($42,382)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($54,193)
#36. Charlotte County
- 23.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($20,609 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($26,709)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($28,769)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($42,428)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($52,043)
#35. Jefferson County
- 22.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($18,421 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($30,161)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25% ($36,572)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($50,585)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($54,938)
#34. Osceola County
- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($22,187 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($25,569)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.6% ($29,584)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($37,977)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($50,388)
#33. St. Lucie County
- 21.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($21,505 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($28,606)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($35,163)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($42,334)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($50,919)
#32. Polk County
- 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15% ($23,088 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($28,646)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($32,530)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($45,272)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($53,340)
#31. Marion County
- 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($23,579 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($27,596)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($28,337)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($40,287)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($57,323)
#30. Gulf County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($11,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.8% ($28,718)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($27,527)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($39,012)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($51,458)
#29. Franklin County
- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($23,372 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($27,778)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($28,141)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.6% ($44,900)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($39,063)
#28. Hernando County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($21,606 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($30,083)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($31,847)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($42,701)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($55,299)
#27. Citrus County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($22,555 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.2% ($25,837)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($29,827)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($43,790)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($48,729)
#26. Wakulla County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($26,742 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($31,621)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($38,915)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($50,431)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($53,587)
#25. Highlands County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($19,128 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.8% ($22,385)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($29,053)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($41,801)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($55,817)
#24. Gadsden County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.1% ($24,971 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($29,066)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($30,594)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($41,162)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($44,653)
#23. Suwannee County
- 15.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.6% ($22,234 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($27,178)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($33,984)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($41,570)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($43,792)
#22. Columbia County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.8% ($23,573 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($29,294)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($31,401)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($47,665)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($57,478)
#21. Liberty County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.6% ($13,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.8% ($31,122)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($36,140)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($47,963)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($54,338)
#20. Madison County
- 14% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19% ($20,375 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.7% ($25,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($31,040)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($38,429)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($50,033)
#19. Gilchrist County
- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($21,291 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($27,046)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($31,497)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($41,713)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($44,271)
#18. Baker County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($28,651 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($35,186)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($34,220)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($42,741)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($60,179)
#17. Jackson County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.5% ($21,104 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($27,010)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($30,727)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($43,844)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($51,174)
#16. Washington County
- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.7% ($20,371 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.1% ($27,074)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($29,242)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.6% ($42,105)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($52,240)
#15. Putnam County
- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.2% ($23,708 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($26,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($29,171)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($36,220)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($48,447)
#14. Levy County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.1% ($21,753 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.1% ($26,010)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($25,586)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($41,135)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($47,069)
#13. Lafayette County
- 11.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.7% ($43,523 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($32,096)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($34,896)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.2% ($31,413)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($39,844)
#12. DeSoto County
- 11.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26.5% ($19,589 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.8% ($25,230)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 18.2% ($29,600)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($37,054)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($45,625)
#11. Okeechobee County
- 11.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.8% ($25,512 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.5% ($26,529)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($33,986)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($45,440)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($50,357)
#10. Glades County
- 11.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.5% ($24,619 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.2% ($30,762)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($32,252)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($40,645)
#9. Holmes County
- 10.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.4% ($25,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($26,000)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($27,952)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($47,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($46,645)
#8. Dixie County
- 10.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.6% ($15,469 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.3% ($32,298)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($30,972)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.6% ($52,155)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
#7. Hardee County
- 10.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.9% ($20,883 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.1% ($28,196)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.8% ($28,861)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($39,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($65,339)
#6. Bradford County
- 9.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.4% ($21,477 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($27,669)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($36,226)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.3% ($31,313)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($73,488)
#5. Calhoun County
- 9.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.1% ($27,344 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.6% ($27,384)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.8% ($29,375)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($42,717)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.5% ($72,100)
#4. Union County
- 9.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.5% ($17,059 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($23,369)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($34,836)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($37,127)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($45,000)
#3. Taylor County
- 8.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.2% ($20,909 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.8% ($26,636)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.6% ($35,074)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.6% ($32,721)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($45,170)
#2. Hendry County
- 8.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 33.7% ($20,939 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($28,617)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.3% ($26,164)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.3% ($40,276)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($46,900)
#1. Hamilton County
- 7.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 27% ($16,607 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.4% ($26,120)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.8% ($24,663)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($37,348)
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.7% ($70,781)